Friday, December 11, 2015

Mealtime Magic: Holiday Cooking Stress

While
the holiday season is generally a happy time of year, it does bring
about some stress. Whether it is battling the shopping mall crowd,
deciding what gifts to buy, traveling or your visiting
in-laws, seasonal stress is real. For those of us tasked with cooking
the holiday party meal the anxiety may make you feeling not-so holly
jolly.

Dennis Snuszka, Vice President of Food & Beverage at TooJay’s Deli (www.toojays.com),
a go-to choice for holiday party catering, has a few tips to take some of the stress out of the holidays:

1.
Make a list
– It sounds simple but lists can help keep you organized and allows you
to get all
of the tasks and to-dos out of your busy mind and down on paper. This
kind of planning will help you visualize how you want to serve the food
and assure that you are not forgetting a family favorite. Start with
your overall menu and then list ingredients
needed, items that need to be ordered ahead as well as tasks that you
can delegate.

2.
Cooking Calendar
– Once your
menu is set you know not only what to make, but when to make it. Don’t
leave the cooking to just one day. Some recipes need time for
marinating, others can easily be made days ahead to free
up oven space and ease the stress of the holiday event.

3.
Simplicity is key
- Easy to make items are key
to avoiding stress, especially the day-of the party. Between setting up
and welcoming your guests, there isn’t much time to spend in the
kitchen. There are delicious recipes that are also
simple and easy to make. Examples include pears wrapped in prosciutto,
green beans with pine nuts, a crudité platter, fruit salad and pre-made
desserts.

4.
Label-Making-
Set out and label serving dishes and pair with utensils a few days
before the party. This allows you to get everything cleaned and sorted
in advance. This step will also help you account for space and identify
any other bowls, baskets or serving pieces needed. No one wants to
scramble to set up an additional table or run to the store for more
items the day of an event.

5.Leave it to the Pros
– Sure, a holiday meal made in your kitchen sounds warm and fuzzy, but
the strain on your holiday spirit may not be worth it. However,
there is nothing wrong with getting a little help! You can still make
your traditional family favorites but let a caterer help with specialty
foods for vegetarians or guests who need to eat gluten-free. Or, have
them prepare desserts and side dishes to compliment
your famous roast. Partnering with a caterer allows you to enjoy the
holiday while serving a meal your friends and family won’t forget. It’s
up to you whether you share your secrets!

About TooJay’s Deli

Founded in 1981, TooJay’s (www.TooJays.com)
has become a Florida institution renowned for serving authentic New
York deli comfort food. With 26 restaurants throughout the state, they
are famous for sliced-to-order meats and piled-high sandwiches. They
also offer freshly baked bread, salads, pastries
and desserts. In addition, TooJay’s has an array of catering options
for holidays, office gatherings and events of any size.